AU3 Fairmont Electric Windows inoperative - BEM???

[geraldbb]

All,

I am new to the forum, but no stranger to fords. I think this thread has been done a few times, but rather than post on other peoples threads, I am starting my own, in the hope of getting someone interested, who has resolved similar issues to what I am dealing with.....

I own a 2002 AU3 Fairmont sedan, with 110km's. Had it for 9 months, since 93km's. Only real issue with the car has been in intermittent problem with the LHF window, not always responding to the drivers door switch, or passenger door switch, though usually responds within a few minutes, to one or the other. No common scenario's to cause the issue, that I can work out?

Yesterday, I picked up the car from having some tyres fitted, in Perth at 35 degree's and immediately wound down both front window's, to expel some hot air. As soon as the windows reached the down position, the R4 Power Window Relay in the IP Fuse Box started humming and vibrating, so I removed it immediately. No more noise, but couldn't wind up the windows either.

I replaced the relay with a Narva compatible type, no change.

I rang an Auto Elec friend of mine, he advised the Drivers door switch was the most likely root cause. I removed and cleaned both front door switches, L & R, and cleaned up the terminals and contacts, removed a lot of dirt and crap in the process, still no change. Every time I fit the R4 Relay back into the IP, the Relay screams and vibrates, and no power to any Windows, front or rear.

I disconnected all the Window Switches, and tried plugging in the Relay, same issue, no change.

I checked all the Fuses and Relay's. Interestingly the AC Relay is missing from the IP Fuse Box, but the Climate Control works perfectly?

So I went and bought 2 new Switches, LHF ($35) and RHF ($179), and fitted them, after being assured by my Auto Elec friend this would solve the problem, it didn't.

Took the car into an Auto Elec workshop today, they couldn't trace the problem either, but at least got power to the window (using a battery external to the car), and wound up the windows. They checked the Door Harness and wiring to the Regulators, no shorts or issues?

They stated that the 30 terminal on the Relay is grounded, and this shouldn't be the case?

Advice is that the (BEM) Body Electrical Module is faulty?

Anyone had the same or similar experience? I don't want to buy a new BEM ($609) just to find it isn't the root cause........

Only other electrical issue is that the Lights On Reminder Alarm doesn't work. Everything else electric still works perfectly.

Best regards

Gerald.

ps. I used to work for Meritor and was involved in the design and manufacture of regulators and motors for the AU and BA Falcon, so you can imagine it is massively frustrating not to be able to diagnose or resolve a Power Window issue with my own car. :